New! Friends of Somerville SEPAC

About

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with one clear purpose: to fuel the work of the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SSEPAC) so families of students with disabilities have the information, support, and community they need. Through grants, donations, and community fundraising, we aim to provide the financial resources that help SSEPAC:

Offer workshops and forums for parents, caregivers, and educators that build skills, share information, and strengthen collaboration.
Grow a multicultural, multilingual network where families of children with disabilities can find support, connect with each other, and advocate together.
Promote community-wide initiatives that advance understanding, acceptance, and true inclusion of all children in Somerville.

Every tax-deductible contribution helps amplify family voices and improve the educational experience of students with disabilities in our schools.

Donate to Friends of Somerville SEPAC

You are donating to Friends of Somerville SEPAC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to support the Somerville special education community. Friends of Somerville SEPAC is a separate nonprofit that raises funds to support the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Somerville SEPAC).

Your gift helps make possible workshops, resources, and a strong community network for families of children with disabilities.

Tax information: Friends of Somerville SEPAC is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions. Our EIN is 39-4813939. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific tax situation.

Donate to Friends of Somerville SEPAC

Translated and Archived Newsletters

It’s officially #GivingTuesday, and this year is special: It is the first-ever campaign for the Friends of Somerville SEPAC! 💙
We formed this non-profit to be the engine behind the advocacy, ensuring the 1,000+ students with disabilities in our schools get the support they deserve.
Your donation today directly supports: ✅ Expert workshops for parents (on IEPs, Neurodiversity, and Rights). ✅ Outreach to our diverse, multilingual families. ✅ Creating a stronger, more connected community for caregivers.
We are just getting started, and we need our village to help us launch strong. Even $10 makes a difference right here in Somerville.
👇 Help us hit our goal at the link in our bio! Or text FOSSEPAC to 44-321 to get the direct link to our Giving Tuesday Campaign!
#SomervilleSEPAC #GivingTuesday2025 #SomervilleMA #FirstEver #SpecialEducation #SPS #InclusionMatters

Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW! 💙 We’re rallying the community to support the Friends of Somerville SEPAC. We are 100% volunteer-run, meaning every single dollar you give stays right here in Somerville to support families of students with disabilities.
👉 Donate here: link in bio! Or text FOSSEPAC to 44-321 to get the direct link to our Giving Tuesday Campaign!
#GivingTuesday #SomervilleSEPAC #SomervilleMA #SupportLocal #SpecialEducation #disabilityrights

If you’ve ever sat in a meeting, stared at an IEP, or tried to decode acronyms late at night, you know: special education can feel overwhelming and isolating.
Friends of Somerville SEPAC exists so families don’t have to do this alone.
We’re a small, volunteer-led nonprofit that raises funds and support for Somerville SEPAC, so they can:
❤️Create spaces where caregivers can ask questions and be heard
❤️Offer workshops, listening sessions, and community events
❤️Lift up the voices of families of students with disabilities in conversations about our schools
This Giving Tuesday, you can help us grow this circle of support.
How you can help today:
💚Text FOSSEPAC to 44-321 to get the direct link to our Giving Tuesday campaign
💚Or donate directly here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/friends-of-somerville-special-education-parent-advisory-council-inc/friends-of-somerville-sepac-giving-tuesday
💚Share this post so more families can find community and resources
💚Tag a Somerville neighbor who cares about inclusion and belonging
Every dollar, every share, and every conversation helps build a Somerville where families know:
👉 You are not alone.
👉 Your child belongs here.
👉 Your voice matters.
Friends of Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

50 Years of IDEA. 50 Years of Access. 50 Years of Progress. ✨
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the federal law that guarantees special education services to eligible children. We’ve come a long way since 1975, but a “seat in the room” is just the beginning.
Even at 50, IDEA isn’t guaranteed. Disability rights — and the Department of Education that enforces them — depend on constant advocacy and community action.
As the Friends of Somerville SEPAC, we honor this anniversary by recommitting to the spirit of the law: True Inclusion.
We advocate not just for compliance, but for connection, belonging, and the resources our educators and students need to succeed. Advocacy is how we turn the promise of IDEA into reality for every student.
Let’s keep pushing forward for the next 50 years — and protecting the rights that make that future possible.
#IDEAat50 #SomervilleMA #DisabilityAdvocacy #InclusiveEducation #FOSSEPAC #SomervillePublicSchools #IDEA #SpecialEducation #SpEd #Inclusion #DisabilityRights #DisabilityJustice #EducationAdvocacy #DisabilityJustice

There’s a big difference between being let in and being intentionally included.
Placement is logistical.
It means a student has a desk, their name is on the roster, and a compliance box is checked. They’re physically present.
Belonging is design.
It means the environment—the space, the curriculum, the schedule, and the social culture—expects and welcomes many kinds of bodies, minds, and communication styles before students even walk through the door.
Belonging looks like:
💚A playground where students who use mobility aids can move, play, and participate alongside peers.
💚Lesson plans built for multiple ways of thinking, communicating, and showing learning—expected, respected, and supported.
💚A classroom where every student is considered from the start, not added in later.
We are striving for a district where students don’t just occupy space—the space communicates, “You belong here, exactly as you are.” Whether a student navigates by wheelchair, communicates using AAC, is neurodivergent, or learns in other ways, they deserve to know school was designed with them in mind.
We’re working to move from simple “access” to true belonging and ownership.
How you can help today:
💚Text FOSSEPAC to 44-321 to get the direct link to our Giving Tuesday campaign
💚Or donate directly here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/friends-of-somerville-special-education-parent-advisory-council-inc/friends-of-somerville-sepac-giving-tuesday
💚Share this post so more families can find community and resources
💚Tag a Somerville neighbor who cares about inclusion and belonging
Every dollar, every share, and every conversation helps build a Somerville where families know:
👉 You are not alone.
👉 Your child belongs here.
👉 Your voice matters.
Friends of Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

"Advocacy turns promise into practice."

An IEP is a promise. IDEA is a promise.

But a promise on paper doesn't teach a child to read, support their sensory needs, or ensure they feel safe at school.

Only practice does that.

Friends of Somerville SEPAC exists to fund the advocacy that turns those promises into reality.

We are officially launching our mission this Giving Tuesday (Dec 2).

Help us put our mission into practice.
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/friends-of-somerville-special-education-parent-advisory-council-inc/friends-of-somerville-sepac-giving-tuesday
#Advocacy #SpecialEducation #PromiseIntoPractice #SomervilleMA #GivingTuesday #FriendsOfSomervilleSEPAC #DisabilityRights #IDEA

Did you know? 💡

We often talk about "inclusion," but do we know who we are including?

Here is the reality of Special Education in Somerville as of Fall 2025:

🔹 1,032 Students: The number of children with IEPs in our schools. That’s 18.5% of the district. 🔹 30.3%: The percentage of those students who are also Multilingual Learners. 🔹 12%: The percentage of students with disabilities (Grades 3-8) meeting grade-level expectations in English Language Arts.

The Takeaway: We have a large, diverse community with significant unmet needs.

That is why the Friends of Somerville SEPAC exists. We are the independent non-profit dedicated to raising the funds that fuel the work of the Somerville SEPAC.

This #GivingTuesday, your tax-deductible donation helps us:

Offer workshops for parents and caregivers.

Grow a multicultural, multilingual network.

Promote community-wide inclusion initiatives.

The Friends of Somerville SEPAC ensures that the families behind these numbers never have to navigate the system alone. Help us support every single one of them this Giving Tuesday.

🔗https://secure.givelively.org/donate/friends-of-somerville-special-education-parent-advisory-council-inc/friends-of-somerville-sepac-giving-tuesday

Disclaimer: Friends of Somerville SEPAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit separate from the Somerville Public Schools and the SEPAC. #FriendsofSomervilleSEPAC #SpecialEducation #SpEd #Disability #DisabilityRights #GivingTuesday

Get ready for a spooky-fun time at the Monster Mash! 🎃👻

Be sure to stop by the @friendsofsomervillesepac and @somervillesepac table for some festive coloring activities! We can't wait to see your creative masterpieces and connect with the community!

Monster Mash Details

Date: Sunday, October 19, 2025

Time: 2:00 – 6:00 PM (Rain Date: October 26)

Location: Somerville Ave, between School St. and Washington St.

Come for the coloring, and stay for the community parade at 3:30 PM, live music, spooky crafts, and delicious food vendors like Taquisimo, Nibble Kitchen, and more!

For all the details: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/monster-mash/

(Poster Artwork Credit: Nate Devarie @nate_devarie )

#SomervilleMA #MonsterMash #SomervilleSEPAC #FamilyFun #Coloring #CommunityEvent #Inclusion #FriendsofSomervilleSEPAC

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Please fill out this form to join our community network, receive updates and our newsletter, and let us know how you'd like to get involved. All are welcome, and our meetings are open to the public.

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Upcoming Events

Thu, Dec 04
Friends of Somerville SEPAC Business Meeting
Google meet
Learn more
Dec 04, 2025, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Google meet
Mon, Nov 10
Friends of Somerville SEPAC Business Meeting
Google meet
Learn more
Nov 10, 2025, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Google meet
Sun, Oct 19
Monster Mash!
Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA, USA
Learn more
Oct 19, 2025, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA, USA
Get ready for a spooky-fun time at the Monster Mash! 🎃👻 Be sure to stop by the Friends of Somerville SEPAC and Somerville SEPAC table for some festive coloring activities! We can't wait to see your creative masterpieces and connect with the community!

Contact Us

Email: friendsofsomervillesepac@gmail.com

Disclaimer

Please Note: Friends of Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council, Inc. (“Friends of Somerville SEPAC”) is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. We are a legally separate entity from the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SSEPAC). Our mission is exclusively charitable and focused on raising funds and resources to support the goals and activities of SSEPAC.

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